October 25, 2024 4:30 am
It’s Friday and the end of Week 4! Of Human Bondage has been surprisingly easy to read. Such memorable characters. Especially that Mildred. Ugh!
By now, you should have read the following:
This Week’s reading:
Chapters LXIX-LXXII / 69-72 (26 pp.)
Chapters LXXIII-LXXVIII / 73-78 (37 pp.)
Chapters LXXIX-LXXXVI / 79-86 (45 pp.)
Chapters LXXXVII-LXXXIX / 87-89 (19 pp.)
Chapters XC-XCVII / 90-97 (49 pp.)
Discuss/Read the above by 10/25 (176 pages total)
Mildred returns. Drats. And she’s in quite a state. Unable to care for herself, dumped. Once again Philip feels pity for her situation.
Then there’s Norah and the way she plays Philip. As calculating as Mildred is, Norah is not much better. It puts Philip in a very bad mood. Under the advice of Griffiths, he tells Norah it’s over. She refuses to believe it until he admits that Mildred is back in the picture.
The next bit is a spoiler if you haven’t finished the reading so look away…
Mildred, pregnant, without prospects is a ghastly thing. More ghastly is when the baby is born. She has no real plan. The baby, all throughout this week’s reading doesn’t even have a name. The baby feels temporary, unfortunately. Or perhaps a pawn to get what she wants.
During all of this drama, Philip is attending medical school. Trying to. It’s incredibly hard to focus when Mildred is constantly on his mind. She has disappointed him time and time again and continues to do so. So much so, that after another setback for Mildred, he has fallen out of love with her.
Philip befriends Athelny and his family. Athelny was a patient of Philip’s but has proven to provide the camaraderie Philip so desperately desires. The enjoyable Sunday meals are quite welcomed as well because money is once again an issue. Athelny’s family adores Philip too. He is their “Uncle” Philip.
However, as Mildred says, Philip is a gentleman in every sense of the word and offers Mildred lodging and food in exchange for housemaid duties. You see, she was on the street, selling herself as a last resort. She accepts his offer and her and the baby move in with Philip.
Philip, feeling comfortable now that Mildred is around and that his fondness for another man’s child grows on him, decides to have his foot operated on. To recover, Mildred, Philip and the baby have a little seaside holiday.
Bad decision. Very bad. All of it.
Things to ponder:
What does the title of the book mean to you?
Why does Mildred have such control over Philip? What does she represent?
The baby doesn’t have a name. There is also one line in the book where Mildred asks Philip if he sees a resemblance. Is Maugham hinting here that the baby is Philip’s?
What is really significant in Of Human Bondage is that it touches almost all the complexities of human life: these are upbringing and education issues, place of religion and morality, difficulties in finding an occupation, and the obstacles which are faced when having some inability. Is it too much? Should Maugham have narrowed the focus a bit?
The title. Philip holds himself prisoner. He is his own worst enemy. True, Mildred is horrid but what Philip does to himself, is hard to watch. In relation to the Mildred / Norah story line, “He would rather have misery with one than happiness with the other.” Not a great way to live.
Time and time again we question Philip’s judgment when it comes to Mildred. She’s not described as particularly attractive. That green pallor, her slight frame from not eating well, and even hints at poor hygiene. Yet, Philip has a hard time not feeling pity for the woman. Especially where the baby is concerned.
I will say this about Mildred, she is a survivor. She does what she needs to do to survive and unfortunately for our friend Philip, that’s use him until he’s lost his last penny. What does she represent? I thought it was what Philip couldn’t have but honestly, towards the end of the book I got the feeling that she is a gauge for humanity and how much of it he has left.
The nameless baby. Really, what is up with the kid? Is she Philip’s? Mildred asks him if he sees a resemblance and in Maugham’s style of writing this could very well be a “tell” of some sort. The baby doesn’t appear to be all that important to Mildred, I mean, the child’s name is never mentioned but Philip adores the child. Her presence allows us to see a different side to Philip. Could he one day be a family man?
Of Human Bondage covers a host of topics: education, religion, morality, happiness. Is it too much? I don’t think so at all! I think Maugham teases out just enough to pull the reader in and I can’t help but wonder how this will all turn out for Philip.
Maugham actually obtained a medical degree but chose to be a writer instead. This book is somewhat autobiographical. He also suffered from a stutter and was bullied relentlessly. However, he was married for twelve years and had a daughter, but his principal companion was another man.
Your turn! What did you think of this week’s reading? Also, we are entering our last and final week of the read-along! It’s been delightful.
Posted by Ti
Categories: Book Review, Bookish Talk
Tags: @2024 Book Chatter, Bookish Chatter, Classics, Community Event, Literary Fiction, Of Human Bondage, Read-along, Vintage, W. Somerset Maugham, Week 4
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Good overview. I’ve stalled. I don’t particular care what happens to Philip nor Mildred at this point.
By Care on October 25, 2024 at 8:49 am
It becomes very interesting.
By Ti on October 26, 2024 at 7:56 pm
I tried to see if any of the films were available free (nope) but I did watch the trailers. Kim Novak as Mildred is still about disconcerting! I’ll try skimming through the print version AND crack open the Cliffs Notes I checked out from the library! 😀
By Care on October 27, 2024 at 7:23 am
Hoopla has the Bette Davis version for free! You just need to log in with your library card.
By Ti on October 29, 2024 at 6:02 am
Good Monday morning 🌞Tina, I want you to know th
By Debbie Hellman on November 4, 2024 at 5:33 am
Your comment was cut off. Are you still reading?
By Ti on November 4, 2024 at 9:01 am
Ok, this section is just so frustrating. I see why he feels for her situation and the baby, but all that’s she’s done to him…it seems as though he brushes it aside too quickly. Mildred is just so “opportunistic.” I think she sees Philip as an easy mark, and she’s not wrong.
Philip is definitely someone who is going about his life with little thought of risks to himself or the consequences of his actions/decisions.
Athelny and his family seem good, but definitely too focused on patriarchal notions of women and men and their roles, but that’s too be expected. I see why he is attracted to him – the conversation. Philip is definitely intellectually stimulated by these conversations, and he loves the warmth of their family.
There is so much about the bondage of money, families, love, relationships of want/need, and so many. It’s almost like Maugham is taking us on a journey with one man to show us the world around us and the relationships in it — relationships between people and things. Can you be freed from those chains?
I think we all know the answer to that.
By sagustocox on December 23, 2024 at 10:58 am
His comments about happiness are very telling. He would rather be miserable with his obsession than content with Norah. It’s so odd.
By sagustocox on December 30, 2024 at 6:14 am
A lot of people choose to be miserable but usually they play the martyr. He doesn’t. I feel like his self worth is an issue. He doesn’t think he deserves happiness
By Ti on December 31, 2024 at 10:41 am